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"Today Kevin will help me in the fields," said my father "It's far too easy I've been on hi time, after all; if you bairns would eat next winter, you must work!"

"Indeed they must," saidroom "I have work for you to do today as well, Miss Maclaine There is owns your father lavishes you with and visiting about the countryside"

I looked at the floor

The gong sounded My father gave my mother his arm, and ent in to breakfast

Kevin talked as he spooned hos onto his plate "There are ruents have all resigned There is no one to enforce it"

"Of course no one could enforce it," said my father "They were afraid to They knew the Liberty Boys would rout them properly"

"We did rout theht we tied up that fat agent at Callender? Why, our Jessie wrote a song about it! Did you hear it, Ma at me "No, I did not hear about it! What a talented lass you are, ht"

"You flatter me too much, sir," I said "It was only a silly verse, intended to aly entertaining," said my mother "I only wish my endeavors to teach Jessamine needleere as successful as her atte for my father to defend me I was not disappointed

"Ach, let the lass be There is plenty of time for her to learn how to keep house Let her play while she still hteen in October, sir," said my mother "For hoould you keep her a spinster?"

"A spinster?" My father laughed, as loudly as Kevin "She is but a child I am in no hurry to marry her off"

My mother did not answer him, and I did not look at either of them I fervently thanked God that my father still considered me a child

Kevin spoke "Perhaps, Papa, after dinner today weto see the Randalls It's been too long since we've visited"